Born in Oxford, England, Lewis grew up in a family of teachers with two brothers, an older brother named Tom and a twin brother named George. His passion for music began at the age of 13 when he started playing the guitar. However, it was only later, after joining his brothers' band, that he began singing. Lewis attended Bartholomew School in Eynsham and also worked as a 'dinner lady' at Cokethorpe School. At the age of 19, he moved to London to study at the London Centre of Contemporary Music.
Lewis initially started writing songs and performing under the moniker Rhys Lewis & the Relics. His talent caught the attention of Decca Records, which led to the release of his debut solo single, "Waking Up Without You," in late 2016. Over the next year, he released several successful singles, including "Be Your Man" and "Reason to Hate You," gaining millions of streams. Lewis embarked on tours with James TW and JP Cooper during this time.
In 2018, Lewis released his major-label debut, the Bad Timing EP, which further solidified his growing fan base. The EP showcased his soul and blues influences, with his distinctive singing style and guitar skills shining through. Lewis continued to release a string of successful singles in 2019, setting the stage for his debut album, Things I Chose to Remember, which was released in July 2020. The album stands out as it was recorded on analogue tape, a deliberate choice by Lewis to ensure meticulous attention to detail and clarity in the music.
Lewis draws inspiration from artists such as Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, whose lyrics resonated with him as a songwriter. He also cites influences from Led Zeppelin and Bill Withers, particularly the latter's song "Lean On Me."
His songwriting covers various aspects of his life, addressing topics such as the portrayal of men in the media, mental health, and personal relationships. Many of his songs revolve around themes of heartbreak, including "When Was The Last Time," "Be Your Man," and "Hurting." Lewis finds performing his song "No Right To Love You" particularly challenging due to its connection to a personal heartbreak, as it evokes intense emotions and memories associated with the breakup.
No Right To Love You
Rhys Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're not on my pillow
My head shakes and then the penny drops
Still your t-shirt on my chair
Penciled hearts on paper
I try not to think but I can't stop
And doubt sets in like a storm
I could feel it coming
And words echo out yesterday
Time pushed me to the edge
To jump was my decision
I've only got myself to blame
'Cause I have no right to love you
When I chose to walk away
I have no right to miss you
When I didn't wanna stay
And I have no right to need you
And I knew what my heart was gonna lose
I have no right to love you
But I do
I still do
I still do
Night falls, I'm wide awake
Wishing I could call you
I'm too used to hearing all about your day
The cold creeps up next to me
Now we don't share these covers
But I've no license to complain
'Cause I have no right to love you
When I chose to walk away
I have no right to miss you
When I didn't wanna stay
And I have no right to need you
And I knew what my heart was gonna lose
I have no right to love you
But I do
I still do
You know I care, but I can't be there
To make this unmade bed of roses
And you deserve to be put first
I had to let you go
I have no right to love you
When I chose to walk away
I have no right to miss you
When I didn't wanna stay
And I have no right to need you
And I knew what my heart was gonna lose
To ask if you're okay
When I left you so confused
I have no right to love you
I have no right, oh
I have no right to love you
But I still do
Yeah, I still do, whoa
I still do
The lyrics to Rhys Lewis's song No Right To Love You depict a person who has decided to end a relationship but still love their former partner. The singer of the song is realizing the consequences of their decision to break up with someone they still love. The song is a reflection of the singer's thoughts and feelings after the end of the relationship. They wake up to the realization that the person they love is no longer there. They find reminders of their former partner, like their t-shirt and a paper with penciled hearts, which fill them with regret and doubt. They know they have no right to love the person, but they still do.
The second verse of the song depicts the loneliness and emptiness that the singer feels now that they are alone. They miss their former partner and wish they could call them to hear about their day. They realize that they no longer share covers with their former partner, and they have no right to complain. The singer is aware that they cannot be there for their former partner, and they had to let them go. The chorus repeats the message that the singer knows they have no right to love, miss, or need their former partner. The singer has accepted its consequences, although they still love the person.
Line by Line Meaning
Day breaks and when I turn
As I wake up in the morning and look around, I realize that you are not here with me.
You're not on my pillow
I miss your presence on my pillow, next to me.
My head shakes and then the penny drops
As I process my thoughts, I come to a realization that you're not here with me.
Still your t-shirt on my chair
Your t-shirt is still on the chair, which reminds me of you and your presence.
Penciled hearts on paper
I find the reminders of the affection we once shared in the form of hearts on paper.
I try not to think but I can't stop
Despite wanting to avoid thinking about you, I find myself unable to do so.
And doubt sets in like a storm
As time moves on, I begin to doubt my decision to leave you like a storm that clouds my judgment.
I could feel it coming
I was able to sense it building up inside of me all along.
And words echo out yesterday
The words you said still echo in my mind from yesterday.
Time pushed me to the edge
Over time, I felt myself being pushed to the edge of my ability to cope.
To jump was my decision
The decision to leave you was ultimately mine to make.
I've only got myself to blame
I have no one to blame but myself for the situation I am in now.
'Cause I have no right to love you
When I chose to walk away
I have no right to miss you
When I didn't wanna stay
And I have no right to need you
And I knew what my heart was gonna lose
I have no right to love you
But I do
I still do
I still do
Although I chose to leave you, I have no right to love, miss, or need you. I knew that I would ultimately lose my heart if I left, but I still love you despite having no right.
Night falls, I'm wide awake
As the night comes, I find myself awake, unable to sleep or stop thinking about you.
Wishing I could call you
I wish I could reach out and call you, but I know that I shouldn't.
I'm too used to hearing all about your day
I find myself accustomed to hearing about your day, and I miss that part of our relationship.
The cold creeps up next to me
The coldness I feel physically now reflects the coldness I feel emotionally from having lost you.
Now we don't share these covers
Our lack of physical closeness is represented by our not sharing the covers anymore.
But I've no license to complain
Despite my loneliness and longing, I know that I have no right to complain about the outcome of my decision to leave you.
You know I care, but I can't be there
I want you to know that I still care for you, but I cannot be with you as I am the one who left you.
To make this unmade bed of roses
I cannot help to fix our broken relationship, which is now like flowers that have wilted in an unmade bed.
And you deserve to be put first
You deserve to be the priority in someone's life, but I cannot give you that.
I had to let you go
Ultimately, I had to let you go, even though I still love you.
To ask if you're okay
When I left you so confused
I have no right to love you
I have no right, oh
I have no right to love you
But I still do
Yeah, I still do, whoa
I still do
I have no right to inquire about your well-being after confusing you by leaving, but I still love you despite having no right to.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Rhys Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind